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Dharam Singh demands special status for Gulbarga division

Last updated: 24 June, 2009

New Delhi, PTI:

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh on Wednesday charged the BJP government in the state with neglecting the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, which he said should be given special status.

"We are demanding a special status for the Hyderabad- Karnataka region (Gulbarga division) on the lines of Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. The region is the most backward part of the state and needs immediate attention," Singh said.

The former CM said he appealed to the Prime Minister and Home Minister P Chidambaram to bring an amendment to the Constitution on the lines of Article 371 (D) which provides safeguard to people of Telangana in employment and education.

Singh, a Congress MP from Bidar, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and appraised him about the specific needs of the region, once part of the princely state of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and its people who are "deprived of all benefits".

"Two other parts of the erstwhile Nizam state -- Telangana and Marathwada in Maharashtra -- have already got benefits under the Constitution but Gulbarga division still remains the most neglected area," Singh claimed.

"The Yeddyurappa government is not serious about the developmental needs of the people of the state and not pursuing the issue with the Centre," he alleged.

Singh requested the Prime Minister for the speedy completion of railway projects in Gulbarga division and also establishment of an IIT there.